Community Prevention and Intervention Unit (CPIU)

The Community Prevention and Intervention Unit (CPIU) of the Department of Health Care Sciences is involved in a wide spectrum of activities to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and other health-related conditions.

The CPIU is staffed by more than 20 professionals who possess a broad range of skills and experiences including counseling and testing, community outreach and research, training and capacity building, facilitation of groups, and individual counseling and coaching.

As stated in its Mission Statement, the CPIU staff specializes with communities to develop and implement effective programs to prevent disease and promote healthy choices through strengthening prevention efforts.

Testing & Counseling

HIV/STI Counseling, Testing, and Referral services are intended to be flexible and tailored to the specific settings and populations served. They are meant to promote early knowledge of HIV status; provide information on transmission, prevention, and the meaning of HIV test results; and promote access to needed medical, preventive, and psychosocial support services. For more information call 469-291-2800.

Linkage to Care

Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access to Services (ARTAS) is an individual-level, multisession, time-limited intervention to link individuals who have been recently diagnosed with HIV to medical care. ARTAS is based on the Strengths-Based Case Management model, which encourages the client to identify and use personal strengths; create goals for himself/herself; and establish an effective, working relationship with the Linkage Coordinator. For more information call 469-291-2863.

Healthy Relationships

Healthy Relationships is a program for small groups of men and women living with HIV/AIDS. Knowing that the lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS are stressful, the program aims to build coping skills to reduce stress. These skills involve: solving problems, making decisions, and negotiating choices. The skills are applied to three life areas: disclosing HIV status to family and friends, disclosing to sex partners, and building healthy and safer relationships. For more information call 469-291-2868.

CRCS/CLEAR

CRCS in an individual, client-centered program with multiple sessions that helps HIV positive and negative men and women live healthier lives. The goals are to increase awareness and a reduction in high risk sexual or needle-using behavior and prevent the acquisition and transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. CLEAR: Choosing Life: Empowerment! Action! Results! is an evidence-based, health promotion intervention for males and females ages 16 and older living with HIV/AIDS or at high risk for acquiring HIV. CLEAR is a client-centered program delivered one-on-one using cognitive behavioral techniques to change behavior. The intervention provides clients with skills necessary to be able to make health choices for their lives. For more information call 469-291-2866.

HIV Epidemiology Research and Behavioral Studies (HERBS)

The CPIU participates in research and surveillance projects that help measure the HIV epidemic and support HIV prevention. HERBS staff provides training and technical assistance to support HIV surveillance in Texas, conducts surveillance activities, and participates in research to support the development and evaluation of HIV prevention activities.

HIV Incidence Surveillance

HIV incidence is the estimated total number of new (total number of diagnosed and undiagnosed) HIV infections in a given period. In recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has used new technology and methodology to more directly measure the number of new HIV infections in the United States. HIV incidence estimates are used to monitor the HIV epidemic in this country, and to guide policies and programs created to serve communities and populations most affected by HIV. HIV incidence reflects the leading edge of HIV transmission, HIV infection trends, and the impact of HIV prevention efforts.

Medical Monitoring Project

MMP is an ongoing population-based surveillance system to assess clinical outcomes and behaviors of HIV-infected adults receiving care in the United States. MMP collects data from patient interviews and medical chart review. MMP is currently conducted in 17 states and six cities by local and state public health departments in collaboration with the CDC.

Black Mpowerment Project Evaluation Studies

The Mpowerment Project is a proven intervention for young gay and bisexual men that reduces the rate of unprotected sex and thus lowers the rate of new HIV infection. The Black Mpowerment Project is a study designed to test the efficacy of the Mpowerment intervention adapted to serve the community of young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). The project, including the intervention, is overseen by University of California San Francisco. UT Southwestern and UT Houston Health Science Center are conducting the intervention evaluation.

The evaluation has three components that include:

Young Black Men’s Survey, an annual cross-sectional survey conducted at public venues
Qualitative evaluation that includes participant observations and a series of interviews with a cohort of YBMSM over a period of three years
Recruitment of a cohort of HIV positive YBMSM who will participate in surveys over a period of four years